What should you pay attention to with your next WiFi router? Check which specs a router must meet and whether you are better off with a traditional router or a mesh system.
Choosing a new WiFi router: so much choice!
A while ago Apple discontinued AirPort routers, so you have to rely on external providers. In terms of design, there is a lot of choice, from white designer columns to nerdy-looking black boxes with antenna protrusions. What should you pay attention to? But the appearance is also important to pay attention to the specs.
- HomeKit router
- WiFi 6 and 6E
- Mesh system
- Traditional router
HomeKit routers
If you are an Apple user, it may be interesting to pay attention to HomeKit support. HomeKit routers have been available since early 2020, with a choice of Linksys and Eero, among others. The HomeKit support mainly provides improved security, thanks to an extra layer of security around your connected HomeKit accessories. This makes them less susceptible to hacks. If one of your accessories has a security breach, the rest of your network is not at risk.
Another advantage of HomeKit routers is that they are visible in the home app, where you set additional functions. For example, you can control which services your HomeKit accessories are allowed to communicate with, both within the network and beyond.
Advantages of HomeKit routers:
- Better protection, without you having to make an effort.
- Automatic firewall around your products.
- Control settings via Home app.
< strong>Disadvantages HomeKit routers:
- Little choice of brands and models.
- Apple provides little information about the functionality.
- Apple doesn't do much development.
See also 
These HomeKit routers are currently available
With a HomeKit router, you have full control over your smart home accessories and are safer. There is also an emphasis on improving your privacy. Not every router is suitable. Find out what you need for Apple's HomeKit Secure Router features and how it works!
WiFi 6 or 6E
Many people still have a router that works with WiFi 5 (802.11ac). That is often fine, but if you are ready for a new one, you could take a look at WiFi 6. This has been going on since 2019 and there is now a wide choice of WiFi 6 routers from brands such as Linksys, Netgear, TP-Link and ASUS. The advantage is that these routers offer higher speed and more stability.
See also 
With these WiFi 6 routers, your household will stay up to speed
WiFi 6, also known as Wireless AX, improves your wireless network. You need a WiFi 6 router for this, so that you can take advantage of all the benefits. These are the WiFi 6 routers of the moment!
If you want to be even better prepared for the future, you need a router with WiFi 6E, for example from brands such as TP-Link, Netgear and Linksys.
Do you already need WiFi 6 or 6E in your router? Not really: routers with WiFi 5 (802.11ac) are still fast enough for most applications. For gaming and other demanding applications you could consider the switch. Keep in mind that your devices must also be suitable for it. Apple has supported WiFi 6 since the iPhone 11 and already WiFi 6E on some products.
See also 
What you need to know about WiFi 6E: suitable Apple devices and routers
Since 2019, the term WiFi 6 has been flying around us . But in the meantime there is already a successor: you can already buy routers with WiFi 6E. We explain exactly what this means, which Apple products are already suitable for it and whether it is already necessary to renew your router.
Advantages WiFi 6 routers:
- Ready for the future: you can move forward for a few years.
- Higher speeds: from 3.5 Gbps to 9.6 Gbps. The added value mainly lies in the fact that more devices in your network can handle this speed.
- Fast even in busy places: even if you are connected to a lot of devices, the connection remains stable. The devices do not continuously occupy a WiFi channel, but only use the necessary bandwidth.
- Better coverage: With thick concrete walls or insulation, the range may be reduced. Because WiFi 6 works at both high and low frequencies, you will experience less interference and signal loss.
- Better security: WiFi 6 supports WPA3, the successor to the WPA2 security protocol. This improves the security of your connection and better encrypts traffic on public networks, reducing the chance of hacks and malware attacks.
- Longer battery life for your mobile devices. WiFi 6 uses the target wake time (TWT) functionality. WiFi connections deliver packets of data to connected devices. The more connected devices, the longer this takes and the more waiting time you have. WiFi 6 routers can tell devices how long it will take for the next packet to arrive. The device can go to sleep in the meantime, which has a positive effect on the battery life.
- There is now a wide choice of models and providers.
Disadvantages WiFi 6 routers:
- For many households, the speed of WiFi 6 is
not necessary at all. - Check in advance whether your internet provider offers higher speeds. Otherwise it will be of no use to you.
- WiFi 6 routers are often considerably more expensive than the entry-level models with WiFi 5.
Mesh system
Do you want to use a traditional router or a mesh system? Mesh systems are currently very popular because they can cover a larger surface. You use several nodes (nodes), which you place throughout your house. For a normal house, two or three nodes are more than enough. You can also easily expand your network range to, for example, an attic or shed. A well-known mesh system is Google Nest Wifi. This is available in two variants. The ‘normal’ version works with WiFi 5, while there is also a newer Pro version that already supports WiFi 6.
Prices normal Google Nest Wifi from 2020 :
Google Nest Wifi base stationRouter + Point
The Pro version below can be recognized by its shiny appearance:
Google Prices Nest Wifi Pro from 2022:
Google Nest Wifi Pro2 pieces
With a mesh network, the router and nodes must be made by the same manufacturer. Other options for mesh systems can be found, for example, at the manufacturers Ubiquiti, Netgear Orbi, Linksys Velop and TP-Link Deco.
Advantages of mesh system:
These are the main advantages of a mesh system:
- Better coverage throughout your home. You are no longer dependent on a single router, but on a network of separate nodes that work together.
- One network throughout the house. If you use a repeater you have separate networks (for example ‘above’ and ‘below’). In addition, a mesh system only shows one network, both for 2.4GHz and 5GHz. So you don't have to switch between the two manually.
- Fewer breakdowns. Because there are several nodes, your network is not immediately down if one of the devices breaks down. Because all nodes are the same, you can easily replace a broken node. With a traditional router you will immediately have to buy an expensive new device, while with a mesh system you buy a separate node if one breaks.
- Modular: you can make it as big as you want by adding more nodes. Adding a node also requires no technical knowledge.
Disadvantages of a mesh system:
- Price: Current mesh systems are quite expensive. A router with a repeater is probably cheaper.
- Less technical features. Mesh systems are designed to be as consumer friendly as possible. As a result, more advanced functions such as changing the DHCP IP, adding a different DNS or choosing whether you use the 2.4GHz network are often missing. Simple sometimes also has disadvantages, especially if you like to tweak your network yourself.
- Scalability: the range of a separate node is less than that of a separate router and repeater. So you will have to put quite a lot of nodes in your house if you have a large house. As a result, it quickly becomes expensive.
- Speed: the speed decreases the further you are from the fixed internet connection. In a mesh system, the signal starts at the first node, which amplifies it and forwards it to the next. If you really want super fast internet everywhere in the house, you will have to install cabling with UTP ports throughout your house.
Traditional router
You could also opt for a traditional router. You connect this to your provider's internet connection and it must then provide coverage for the entire house. You can possibly expand this with systems that further expand the coverage, for example with a repeater or devices that work via the socket (such as Devolo).
These products give varying results: some people are very satisfied with them and for others it doesn't work at all. For small apartments, a traditional router is often sufficient. If you have a lot of problems with concrete walls, thick floors or just a very large house, a mesh system is often better.
Good options for a traditional router are those from Netgear Nighthawk, Linksys MR series, TP-Link Archer or ASUS Rapture. They are also available for the latest standard, WiFi 6E.
Advantages of traditional router:
- Trusted solution, people are already used to this.
- Great for a somewhat smaller home.
Disadvantages of traditional router:
- You have to work with repeaters for dead spots in your network.
- Separate networks for 2.4GHz and 5GHz, sometimes you're on the wrong network.
Apple gives tips on how best to set up a Wi-Fi router so that it works well with your iPhone, Mac and other Apple products. You can read more about it here.